Genesis 31:47

_AND LABAN CALLED IT JEGAR-SAHADUTHA: BUT JACOB CALLED IT GALEED._ Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha [yªgar] - a heap of stones х_ SAAHªDUWTAA'_ (H3026)], testimony, witness. This word may be either Chaldee or Syriac, according to the vowels used. The language of Laban was that spoken in Syria. It is called Aramaean or Syrian (2 Kings 18:26; Isaiah 36:11), which is known to us in two dialects-Chaldee, and a later form, Syriac. It had probably been the native tongue of Abraham; but upon emigrating to the land of promise he adopted the language of the people of Canaan-the Canaanite or Phoenician language-which, as it was spoken by the Hebrews, we designate as "Hebrew." BUT JACOB CALLED IT GALEED х_ GAL`EED_ ...

47._And Laban called it_. Each, in his own language, gives a name, of the same signification, to the heap. Whence it appears, that Laban used the Syrian tongue, though born of the race of Heber. But it is not wonderful that he, dwelling among Syrians, should have accustomed himself to the language as well as to the manners of the Syrians. And a little before, he is twice called a Syrian; as if Moses would describe him as degenerate, and alienated from the Hebrews. But this seems by no means accordant with the previous history, where we read that the daughters of Laban gave Hebrew names to their sons. Yet the solution is not difficult; for since the affinity between these languages was great, the inflection of one word into another was easy: besides, if the wives of Jacob were tractable, it is not surprising that they should have learned his language. And beyond doubt, he would himself ma...

43-55 Laban could neither justify himself nor condemn Jacob, therefore desires to hear no more of that matter. He is not willing to own himself in fault, as he ought to have done. But he proposes a covenant of friendship between them, to which Jacob readily agrees. A heap of stones was raised, to keep up the memory of the event, writing being then not known or little used. A sacrifice of peace offerings was offered. Peace with God puts true comfort into our peace with our friends. They did eat bread together, partaking of the feast upon the sacrifice. In ancient times covenants of friendship were ratified by the parties eating and drinking together. God is judge between contending parties, and he will judge righteously; whoever do wrong, it is at their peril. They gave a new name to the place, The heap of witness. After this angry parley, they part friends. God is often better to us tha...

Verse Genesis 31:47. _LABAN CALLED IT JEGAR-SAHADUTHA_] יגר שהדותא _yegar_ _sahadutha_, the _heap_ or _round heap of witness; but Jacob called it_ _galed_, which signifies the same thing. The first is pure _Chaldee_, the second pure _Hebrew_. אגר agar signifies to collect, hence יגר _yegar_ and אוגר _ogar_, a _collection_ or _heap_ made up of gathered stones; and hence also אגורא _egora_, an _altar_, used frequently by the _Chaldee_ paraphrast. See 1 Kings 12:33; Judges 6:31; 2 Kings 21:3;...

- Jacob’s Flight from Haran 19. תרפים _t__e__rāpı̂ym_, Teraphim. This word occurs fifteen times in the Old Testament. It appears three times in this chapter, and nowhere else in the Pentateuch. It is always in the plural number. The root does not appear in Biblical Hebrew. It perhaps means “to live well,” intransitively (Gesenius, Roedig.), “to nourish,” transitively (Furst). The teraphim were symbols or representatives of the Deity, as Laban calls them his gods. They seem to have been busts (προτομαί _protomai_, Aquila) of the human form, sometimes as large as life 1 Samuel 19:13. Those of full size were probably of wood; the smaller ones may have been of metal. In two passages...

EXPOSITION GENESIS 31:45 AND JACOB TOOK A STONE, AND SET IT UP _for_ A PILLAR—or _Matzebah_,_ as a _memorial or witness of the covenant about to be formed (Genesis 31:52); a different transaction from the piling of the stone-heap next referred to (of. Genesis 28:18; Joshua 14:1). GENESIS 31:46 AND JACOB SAID UNTO HIS BRETHREN,—Laban's kinsmen and his own (_vide _

AND LABAN CALLED IT JEGARSAHADUTHA,.... Which in the Syriac and Chaldee languages signifies "an heap of witness"; it being, as after observed, a witness of the covenant between Laban and Jacob: BUT JACOB CALLED IT GALEED; which in the Hebrew tongue signifies the same, "an heap of witness"; or "an heap, [the] witness", for the same reason. Laban was a Syrian, as he sometimes is called, Genesis 25:20, wherefore he used the Syrian language; Jacob was a descendant of Abraham the Hebrew, and he used the Hebrew language; and both that their respective posterity might understand the meaning of the name; though these two are not so very different but Laban and Jacob could very well understand each other, as appears by their discourse together, these being but dialects of the same tongue....

JEGARSAHADUTHA Chaldean, the heap of witness....

CHAPTER 31 JACOB'S SERVITUDE ENDED AND FLIGHT FROM LABAN _ 1. Laban's behavior and God's commandment (Genesis 31:1)_ 2. The dream vision to return to the land (Genesis 31:11) 3. Jacob's flight (Genesis 31:17) 4. Laban warned (Genesis 31:22) 5. Laban's accusation (Genesis 31:25) 6. Jacob's answer (Genesis 31:31) 7. The covenant between Jacob and Laban ...

GENESIS 31:22 TO GENESIS 32:2. AFTER MUTUAL RECRIMINATIONS, JACOB AND LABAN MAKE A COVENANT TO REFRAIN FROM AGGRESSION ON EACH OTHER'S TERRITORIES. The analysis is uncertain; Gunkel assigns Genesis 31:22; Genesis 31:26; Genesis 31:28_ a_ (to Laban), Genesis 31:32; Genesis 31:36_ b_,...